Twenty Basque prisoners on hunger strike

At the beginning of February twenty Basque political prisoners remained on hunger strike in Spanish jails while 43 others have abandoned their protest after periods of up to 56 days without food. During the week December 27 to January 3 some 750 citizens throughout Euzkadi went on hunger strike in support of the prisoners.

These 'rolling' hunger strikes began in September/October 1999. In a recent interview in the Basque daily newspaper Gara the political prisoners' support group outlined the demands of the protesters:

1. Freedom for all Basque prisoners;
2. repatriation, ie the halting of the Spanish State practice of dispersing Basque political prisoners outside their homeland;
3. the release of many seriously ill prisoners;
4. the restoration of 75% remission of sentences; and
5. an end to the extradition and deportations of Basque people.

In the historic Basque capital of Irunea on Saturday, January 22 more than 20,000 people marched in support of the prisoners. The 20 prisoners currently on hunger-strike began their protests in stages since December 14 last. Those who have finished their hunger strike include Josetxo Arizkuren who lasted 56 days. Four others were more than 40 days on hunger strike and a further 18 spent more than 30 days without food.

There have been many clashes between Basque youths and the Spanish-controlled police. In Iruqa, Navarre on January 10 running battles for three hours between the riot police, known as 'Robocops', and demonstrators saw volleys of rubber bullets being fired.

Dozens of people and two policemen were injured. Twelve demonstrators were arrested. According to eyewitness accounts in Gara the trouble started when the police entered several bars in Jarauta Street and beat up customers with clubs. Those who fled outside were hit by police rubber bullets fired at close range. A 14-year-old girl was seized and beaten with clubs by the police in front of the crowd. Both the Spanish and French governments are using Basque political prisoners as hostages to force ETA – which recently ended its ceasefire – to give up armed resistance. They ignore Basque demands to have the prisoners transferred to jails in the Basque country.
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Six Bretons in custody in French jails

The Breton independence movement, EMGANN, has passed on to SAOIRSE the names and addresses of six Breton political prisoners arrested and charged with aiding Basque militants. They were arrested at the end of September 1999, and may be held for another two years before being brought to trial.

Among those arrested is the editor of the Combat Breton magazine/newspaper, Denez Riou. The Breton language newspaper, Breman, continues to publish despite the seizure of its computers by French police.

In December, the French Special Branch (DNAT) arrested more than 20 EMGANN members from all over Brittany. Computers, personal telephone books and mobile phones were seized. All those arrested except one man, Arnaud Vanier, were released within 24 hours.

Send cards, letters to the Breton political prisoners:
Denez Riou, 58979/E315, Maison d'Arret, 5 bis, rue Alexandre Turpault, 78 390 Bois d'Arcy, France.

Bertrand Grimault, 887 472 2eme division, Cellule 374, Allée des Thuyas, 94 261 Fresnes cedex, France.

Alain Solé, 888 598, EPSNS, 1,allée des Thuyas, 94 261 Fresnes cedex, France.

Richard Le Faucheux, 271 768 Bloc 222, 42 , rue de la Santé, 75 674 Paris cedex 14, France.

Gérard Bernard, 289 703 V, Cellule 3628, Bat D4, 7, avenue des Peupliers, MAH Fleury Mérogis, 91 705 Sainte Genevieve des Bois, France.

Arnaud Vanier, 272 336 T, Bloc A 323, 42 , rue de la Santé, 75 674 Paris cedex 14, France.
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Beannachtaí

MOORE, Birthday greetings to Seán Moore, Republican Prisoner, Portlaoise prison on your 30th birthday. From your mother and father, brother Fergal and sister Dara.

CROSSAN, Birthday greetings to Tommy Crossan, Maghaberry prison. From your wife Anne. Miss you lots.

CROSSAN, Birthday greetings to my daddy Tommy Crossan, Maghaberry prison. Love you, happy birthday from Kelly Ann, Johnny, Debbie and Warren.

CROSSAN, Birthday greetings to my son Tommy Crossan, Maghaberry prison. From your mum.

CROSSAN, Birthday greetings to Tommy Crossan, Maghaberry prison. From your sisters Michelle, Martina, Patricia and brothers-in-law Kieran, John and Paul.

CROSSAN, Birthday greetings to Tommy Crossan, Maghaberry prison. From the McKelvey/Steele Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, Belfast.
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Deasún Mac Coiligh (Des Cox)

Des Cox, who died at his home in Armagh city on Friday, February 4, was born in Dublin 79 years ago but went to live in in his father's native Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh when he was nine years old.

His mother was from Co Mayo. Married to Molly from Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim, who died in 1999, he had three children, Máire, Frankie and Michael.

A life-long Republican, Des Cox became involved with the Republican Movement when he came to reside in Enniskillen in 1950. A keen follower of Gaelic games he was soon to become secretary of Enniskillen Gaels GFC and represented them for many years at County Board level.

He first came to prominence in the Republican Movement when along with that dedicated veteran from Dungannon, Art Mac Eochaidh, they canvassed to get Phil Clarke elected in Fermanagh/South Tyrone at the expense of Colonel Grosvenor of the unionists. This was after the Omagh barracks raid and nationalist opinion was strong due to the undemocratic capering of the Stormont government.

When the IRA Campaign started in 1956 Des joined the South Fermanagh Brigade under O/C Paddy McManus but due to ill-health he was unable to partake in military engagements. However he worked earnestly for the organisation and his house in Queen Street, Enniskillen was readily available for Volunteers coming from the South.

Des at the time was working as a conductor for Ulsterbus and it was he who brought Dáithí Ó Conaill across the Border for the first time on his bus to leave him with Frank Maguire in Lisnaskea.

The IRA were active in Fermanagh and after the discovery of a dugout at Cavanacross and an attack on the RUC barracks in Enniskillen about fifty yards from Des Cox's home. He was arrested with five others, Frankie and Éamon Goodwin, Joe Owens, Kevin Carson and Henry Martin and brought to Crumlin Road jail in an open jeep. There they were harshly treated as was common practice at the time and young Carson broke down under severe questioning.

Des was thrown into a cell with no window, no light, no toilet and was locked up for 24 hours. Then after strenuous questioning over prolonged periods he collapsed. However they were unable to produce evidence to charge him and he was interned. The two Goodwins, Martin and Owens were sentenced to five years. Carson was released.

Des was interned in C Block, Crumlin Road jail where he was for a period O/C of the Block. After spending a year and a half in jail he was released from the prison hospital on health grounds. Back in Enniskillen he was unable to resume his work with Ulsterbus as the company was notified by minister of home affairs in the Six Counties Tipping that he was not a suitable person to be employed and that they were removing his PSV licence.

He then became a sales representative for Gael-Linn in Ulster. From the start he was successful although he had to contend with continuous harassment and detention by the RUC in barracks the Six Counties. Des, however, was soon to be promoted to sales supervisor and in the mid-sixties he moved residence to Armagh. From the Gael-Linn office in that city he played a prominent role in building a strong Gael-Linn organisation all over Ulster. He moved to Head Office in Dublin in 1970. Des was appointed national sales manager in the 32 Counties and travelled throughout every county in Ireland until his retirement in 1986.

In Armagh he became involved in the Republican clubs and in Sinn Féin. He became a member of the Provisionals in 1970 and was involved in the reorganisation of Easter parades.

When the split occurred in 1986 he was soon to join Republican Sinn Féin, an organisation he had endeavoured to develop in Armagh and to spread its ideals. A lover of all things Irish, his sincerity, idealism and determination in spite of adversity was an inspiration to all Republicans to continue the struggle until ultimate freedom is achieved. Until his death he was still very active in the Corrigan/McKearney Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin and he will be greatly missed by Republicans not just in Armagh but throughout Ireland.

At the removal to Armagh Cathedral on February 6, his Tricolour-draped coffin was driven through Armagh city, preceded by a piper and accompanied by a Republican Sinn Féin guard of honour.

He was buried in the Republican Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery on February 7. The funeral cortege was met at the cemetery gates by members of the Ard Chomhairle of Republican Sinn Féin, including Ruairí Ó Brádaigh President, both Vice-Presidents, Cathleen Knowles McGuirk and Des Long and Ulster chairperson, Mary Ward.

The graveside proceedings were presided over by Joe O'Neill, Bundoran, wreaths were laid on behalf of Republican Sinn Féin and a piper played a lament. Pádraig Ó Baoighill,a long-time friend and colleague of Des, gave a fitting oration.

SAOIRSE extends its deepest sympathy to his daughter Máire, sons Frankie and Michael, grandchildren and family circle.
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Michael O'Sullivan

Their ranks grow thinner as time passes. Those Volunteers from every county of Ireland who were dragged from their beds, handcuffed, thrown into Free State army lorries and dumped into a concentration camp on the Curragh of Kildare in 1939 on the orders of de Valera's Fianna Fáil government.

To get out of that place one only had to sign one's name to a piece of paper which stated that you now "undertake to respect the Constitution of Ireland and the laws and I declare that I will not be a member of, or assist, any organisation which is an unlawful organ under the Offences Against the State Act 1939". No principled Republican could give the required guarantee. Nor could, or would, they recognise the 26-County courts. Those who knew Michael can imagine his remarks when presented with this document.

Michael O'Sullivan was one of those principled Kerrymen who assisted in every way open to him in efforts being made to re-establish the 32-County Republic. Needless to say that Mike remained behind the barbed wire for several years and on release was one of those who kept the Republican Movement alive in the twilight years. Originally a native of Beaufort, near Killarney, Mike was a good athlete and played football with Beaufort -- their jersey lay on his coffin.

As well as being a survivor of the Curragh camp Mike also did a few stints for selling Easter Lilies. For years he worked as a salesman with, at the time, a well-known firm, Cullothy, travelling extensively for them before finally settling in Cahersiveen where he married Shelia Gueran. He took up farming, and it is known that as a younger man was not adverse to a bit of "angling".

In spite of all the splits and deviations from true Republicanism Mike never wavered and indeed influenced quite a few to remain faithful. Helping to organise the local Easter commemoration every year, assisting in cleaning the graves of local Volunteers and laying the wreaths on them on Easter Sunday morning, selling the Republican paper of the day, the Easter Lilies. Any job that had to be done, Mike was there. When he died on January 4 last he was joint treasurer of Cumann Maurice O'Neill, Republican Sinn Féin.

Last October he celebrated his 80th birthday. Little did we think that night in the Shebeen, when we congratulated him, that in a few weeks we would follow his Tricolour-draped coffin to Killavarnogue. There he awaits "the Dawning of the Day" with his comrades of the 3rd South Kerry Brigade.

We tender our deepest sympathy to his widow, Shelia, his daughters Nora and Mary, his sons Michael and Joe, sister Nora in England, and to all his relatives. The funeral was large and representative. Republican Sinn Féin provided the guard of honour. The Special Branch were also in attendance. RIP. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
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Joe Tuohy

The death took place suddenly at his residence, Connolly Park, Tralee, on Sunday, December 5 last of Joe Tuohy at the early age of 54.

A life-long Republican, Joe who was born in Castleisland, spent a number of years in England in the 1960s where he worked as a tradesman. He returned to Kerry in the early 1970s where he threw himself wholeheartedly into the struggle for independence.

Joe served as secretary of Kerry Comhairle Ceantair for a long number of years and was chairman of the Rice/Sheehy Cumann, Trá Lí also. Joe served many terms of imprisonment for his political beliefs, the last occasion when he wore a blanket in Mountjoy jail in 1981 and was removed to Portlaoise prison.

In 1986 when former comrades accepted Leinster House and all the partitionist trappings that went with it Joe remained true to the ideals of Pearse, Tom Maguire and Charlie Kerins. Indeed two nights before he died, he attended the annual Charlie Kerins commem-oration at Strand Street, Tralee. Joe was a gifted tradesman, welder, carpen-ter, painter, signwriter and gardener.

On December 7 a Republican Sinn Féin guard of honour accompanied his remains to St Brendan's Church, Tralee and the next day to his resting-place at Rath Cemetery where Liam Cotter gave a very fitting oration.

Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife Margaret, daughters Helen, Catherine, Lucy, Marie, Carol, sons-in-law and grandchildren.
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Frank Hanily

The death occurred on December 29, 1999 of Frank Hanily of Higginstown, Athboy, Co Meath and formerly of Ballinagare, Co Roscommon.

Frank was involved in the 1939 Campaign in England and among his comrades at that time were Peter Barnes and James McCormack who were hanged in Winson Green prison. Frank was deported back to Ireland where he continued his Republican activities in Roscommon and later in County Meath.
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